One-step foldable elliptical exercise machine
View Patent ↗A folding elliptical exercise machine that allows for easy, safe, and quick storage and being capable, upon a single motion by a user, of changing its shape into a substantially compact form for storage, and vice versa, is provided. The elliptical exercise machine comprises first and second reciprocating foot supports interconnected to the frame, each foot support having a first end and a second end with a collapsible joint therebetween, wherein each reciprocating foot support is collapsible such that the exercise machine can be moved between the operating position and the storage position in a single step by rotating a rear portion of a base support structure upward and toward a front portion of the base support structure. A method for changing the position of the elliptical exercise machine of the present invention from an operating position to a storage position, and vice versa, also is provided.
1. A folding elliptical exercise machine comprising:
a frame having a base support structure having a front portion and a rear portion, wherein the rear portion is rotatably attached to the front portion such that the elliptical exercise machine is movable between an operating position and a storage position; and
first and second reciprocating foot supports interconnected to the frame, each foot support having a first end and a second end with a collapsible joint there between, wherein each reciprocating foot support is collapsible such that the exercise machine can be moved between the operating position and the storage position,
wherein each foot support also has a forward and a rearward portion and the rearward portion of each foot support is interconnected to a drive assembly situated on the rear portion of the base support structure and wherein each foot support collapses in response to the elliptical exercise machine being folded, such that both the foot supports and drive assembly move up together and are maintained together in the storage position.
2. The elliptical exercise machine of claim 1 , wherein each reciprocating foot support is collapsible such that the exercise machine can be moved between the operating position and the storage position in a single step by rotating the rear portion of the base support structure upward and toward the front portion of the base support structure, and wherein the rear portion of the base support structure includes a user graspable handle located and configured such that a user can grasp the handle and rotate the exercise machine from the operating position to the storage position by moving the rear portion of the base support structure upward toward the front portion of the base support structure.
3. The elliptical exercise machine of claim 1 , wherein the frame further comprises an upright support structure and the first end of each reciprocating foot support is interconnected to the upright support structure.
4. The elliptical exercise machine of claim 3 further comprising:
first and second swing arms, each swing arm having a first end and a second end, the first end of each swing arm being pivotally connected to the upright support structure and the second end of each swing arm being connected to the first end of each reciprocating foot support.
5. The elliptical exercise machine of claim 1 further comprising:
a drive assembly situated on the rear portion of the base support structure, wherein the second end of each reciprocating foot support is movably linked to the drive assembly.
6. The elliptical exercise machine of claim 1 further comprising:
a locking mechanism that, in the storage position, prevents the rear portion of the base support structure from inadvertently rotating with respect to the front portion of the base support structure.
7. The elliptical exercise machine of claim 6 further comprising:
a release member for disengaging the locking mechanism such that the rear portion of the base support structure can rotate with respect to the front portion of the base support structure.
8. The elliptical exercise machine of claim 7 , wherein the locking mechanism and the release member are situated on the rear portion of the base support structure.
9. The elliptical exercise machine of claim 1 , wherein the collapsible joint of each reciprocating foot support defines the forward portion and the rearward portion of each reciprocating foot support and wherein the forward portion of each reciprocating foot support is about twice as long as the rearward portion of each reciprocating foot support.
10. The elliptical exercise machine of claim 1 , wherein the collapsible joint of each reciprocating foot support defines the forward portion and the rearward portion of each reciprocating foot support and wherein the forward portion of each reciprocating foot support is at least twice as long as the rearward portion of each reciprocating foot support.
11. The elliptical exercise machine of claim 1 , wherein the collapsible joint of each reciprocating foot support defines the forward portion and the rearward portion of each reciprocating foot support and wherein a ratio of length of the forward portion of each reciprocating foot support to length of the rearward portion of each reciprocating foot support is such that a user need only impart a nominal force to cause the exercise machine to be moved from the operating position to the storage position.
12. The elliptical exercise machine of claim 1 , wherein the collapsible joint of each reciprocating foot support defines the forward portion and the rearward portion of each reciprocating foot support and, wherein for each reciprocating foot support, the rearward portion has a curvature such that the collapsible joint, the first end of the reciprocating foot support, and the second end of the reciprocating foot support form three points of a triangle.
13. A folding elliptical exercise machine comprising:
a frame having a base support structure having a front portion and a rear portion, wherein the rear portion is rotatably attached to the front portion such that the elliptical exercise machine is movable between an operating position and a storage position; and
first and second reciprocating foot supports, each foot support having a forward portion, a rearward portion, a first end situated on the forward portion, and a second end situated on the rearward portion, the first end of each reciprocating foot support being interconnected to the frame, the second end of each reciprocating foot support being movably linked to a drive assembly situated on the rear portion of the base support structure, wherein each reciprocating foot support collapses in response to the rear portion of the base support structure being rotated with respect to the front portion of the base support structure such that the exercise machine can be moved between the operating position and the storage position.
14. The elliptical exercise machine of claim 13 , wherein each reciprocating foot support is collapsible such that the exercise machine can be moved between the operating position and the storage position in a single step by rotating the rear portion of the base support structure upward and toward the front portion of the base support structure.
15. The elliptical exercise machine of claim 13 , wherein the frame further comprises an upright support structure and the first end of each reciprocating foot support is interconnected to the upright support structure.
16. The elliptical exercise machine of claim 15 further comprising:
first and second swing arms, each swing arm having a first end and a second end, the first end of each swing arm being pivotally connected to the upright support structure and the second end of each swing arm being connected to the first end of each reciprocating foot support.
17. The elliptical exercise machine of claim 13 further comprising:
a locking mechanism that, in the storage position, prevents the rear portion of the base support structure from inadvertently rotating with respect to the front portion of the base support structure.
18. The elliptical exercise machine of claim 17 further comprising:
a release member for disengaging the locking mechanism such that the rear portion of the base support structure can rotate with respect to the front portion of the base support structure.
19. The elliptical exercise machine of claim 18 , wherein the locking mechanism and the release member are situated on the rear portion of the base support structure.
20. The elliptical exercise machine of claim 13 , wherein the forward portion of each reciprocating foot support is about twice as long as the rearward portion of each reciprocating foot support.
21. The elliptical exercise machine of claim 13 , wherein the forward portion of each reciprocating foot support is at least twice as long as the rearward portion of each reciprocating foot support.
22. The elliptical exercise machine of claim 13 , wherein a ratio of length of the forward portion of each reciprocating foot support to length of the rearward portion of each reciprocating foot support is such that a user need only impart a nominal force to cause the exercise machine to be moved from the operating position to the storage position.
23. The elliptical exercise machine of claim 13 , wherein each reciprocating foot support further comprises a collapsible joint situated between the first end and second end of each reciprocating foot support, and wherein for each reciprocating foot support, the rearward portion has a curvature such that the collapsible joint, the first end of the reciprocating foot support, and the second end of the reciprocating foot support form three points of a triangle.
24. A folding elliptical exercise machine comprising:
a frame having a front portion and a rear portion, wherein the rear portion of the frame is rotatably attached to the front portion of the frame such that the elliptical exercise machine is movable between an operating position and a storage position; and
first and second reciprocating foot supports, each foot support having a first end and a second end with a collapsible joint therebetween, wherein each reciprocating foot support is collapsible such that the exercise machine can be moved between the operating position and the storage position in a single step by rotating the rear portion of the frame upward and toward the front portion of the frame, wherein the first end of the each foot support is interconnected to the front portion of the frame and the second end of each foot support is linked to a drive mechanism mounted on the rear portion of the frame, and wherein each foot support collapses at the collapsible joint thereof in response to rotation of the rear portion of the frame upward toward the front portion of the frame.
25. The elliptical exercise machine of claim 24 , wherein the frame further comprises an upright support structure and the first end of each reciprocating foot support is interconnected to the upright support structure.
26. The elliptical exercise machine of claim 24 further comprising:
first and second swing arms, each swing arm having a first end and a second end, the first end of each swing arm being pivotally connected to the upright support structure and the second end of each swing arm being connected to the first end of each reciprocating foot support.
27. The elliptical exercise machine of claim 24 further comprising:
a drive assembly situated on the rear portion of the base support structure, wherein the second end of each reciprocating foot support is movably linked to the drive assembly.
28. The elliptical exercise machine of claim 24 further comprising:
a locking mechanism that, in the storage position, prevents the rear portion of the base support structure from inadvertently rotating with respect to the front portion of the base support structure.
29. The elliptical exercise machine of claim 26 further comprising:
a release member for disengaging the locking mechanism such that the rear portion of the base support structure can rotate with respect to the front portion of the base support structure.
30. The elliptical exercise machine of claim 27 , wherein the locking mechanism and the release member are situated on the rear portion of the base support structure.
31. The elliptical exercise machine of claim 24 , wherein the collapsible joint of each reciprocating foot support defines a forward portion and a rearward portion of each reciprocating foot support and wherein the forward portion of each reciprocating foot support is about twice as long as the rearward portion of each reciprocating foot support.
32. The elliptical exercise machine of claim 24 , wherein the collapsible joint of each reciprocating foot support defines a forward portion and a rearward portion of each reciprocating foot support and wherein the forward portion of each reciprocating foot support is at least twice as long as the rearward portion of each reciprocating foot support.
33. The elliptical exercise machine of claim 24 , wherein the collapsible joint of each reciprocating foot support defines a forward portion and a rearward portion of each reciprocating foot support and wherein a ratio of length of the forward portion of each reciprocating foot support to length of the rearward portion of each reciprocating foot support is such that a user need only impart a nominal force to cause the exercise machine to be moved from the operating position to the storage position.
34. The elliptical exercise machine of claim 24 , wherein the collapsible joint of each reciprocating foot support defines a forward portion and a rearward portion of each reciprocating foot support, and wherein for each reciprocating foot support, the rearward portion has a curvature such that the collapsible joint, the first end of the reciprocating foot support, and the second end of the reciprocating foot support form three points of a triangle.
35. A folding elliptical exercise machine comprising:
a frame having a base support structure having a front portion and a rear portion, wherein the rear portion is rotatably attached to the front portion such that the elliptical exercise machine is movable between an operating position and a storage position; and
first and second reciprocating foot supports interconnected to the frame, each foot support having a first end and a second end with a collapsible joint therebetween, wherein each reciprocating foot support is collapsible such that the exercise machine can be moved between the operating position and the storage position in a single step by rotating the rear portion of the base support structure upward and toward the front portion of the base support structure, wherein each foot support is configured to bend at the collapsible joint as the rear portion of the base support structure rotates upward toward the front portion of the base support structure, and
wherein each foot support bends at the collapsible joint when (i) the movement of a first portion of the foot support is restricted as the rear portion of the base support structure rotates upward and (ii) the rear portion of the base support structure continues to rotate further upward, thereby causing a second portion of the foot support to continue moving until the foot support bends at the collapsible joint, and
wherein the first foot support portion is stopped when an interconnecting member connecting the first foot support portion to the frame contacts the frame and thereby stops moving with respect to the frame, such that movement of the rear portion of the base support structure further upward causes the foot support to bend at the collapsible joint.
36. A folding elliptical exercise machine comprising:
a frame having a base support structure having (i) a front portion; and (ii) a rear portion, wherein the rear portion is rotatably attached to the front portion such that the elliptical exercise machine is movable between an operating position and a storage position; and
first and second reciprocating foot supports interconnected to the frame by a respective interconnecting member, each foot support having a front end and a rear end with a collapsible joint therebetween, wherein each reciprocating foot support is collapsible such that the exercise machine can be moved between the operating position and the storage position in a single step by rotating the rear portion of the base support structure upward and toward the front portion of the base support structure, wherein each foot support is configured to bend at the collapsible joint as the rear portion of the base support structure rotates upward toward the front portion of the base support structure, and
wherein each foot support bends at the collapsible joint when (i) the movement of the interconnecting member connecting the front portion of the foot support to the frame is stopped as the rear portion of the base support structure rotates upward while (ii) the rear portion of the base support structure continues to rotate further upward, thereby causing the rear portion of the foot support to continue moving until the foot support bends at the collapsible joint, and wherein
the first foot support bends to a collapsed position as the rear portion of the base support structure rotates upward, after which the second foot support bends to a collapsed position as the rear portion of the base support structure rotates further upward.
37. A folding elliptical exercise machine as recited in claim 36 , wherein each interconnecting member is rotatably coupled to the frame and to a respective foot support and wherein the frame has first and second stop members, each stop member being contacted by a respective interconnecting member as the rear portion of the base is rotated upwardly with respect to the front portion of the base.